Finding Wisdom Through The Good, True, And Beautiful - Ep. 1

What does it mean to become wise, not merely informed?

In this introductory episode of Merging Wisdom, Joel Hubbard, Dan Heroy, and Sarina Heroy explore the vision behind the podcast and begin putting it into practice themselves.

Using Plato’s framework of “the good, the true, and the beautiful” as a starting point, they consider wisdom not as something possessed by gurus, but as something that emerges through curiosity, honest conversation, self-awareness, relationship, and a willingness to be changed.

How can we discuss faith, politics, culture, and other sometimes divisive subjects without turning conversation into combat? Can we remain open to different perspectives without abandoning conviction? What is the difference between collecting knowledge and actually living wisely?

The conversation explores the importance of pruning beliefs and behaviors that no longer produce good fruit, recognizing our own biases, resisting simplistic labels, listening before responding, and allowing ourselves to be genuinely affected by another person’s perspective.

This episode introduces the kind of conversations Merging Wisdom hopes to create: thoughtful but accessible, serious without losing humor, open to disagreement, and grounded in a desire to live with greater truth, goodness, beauty, in relationship with others.

IN THIS EPISODE

• Why Merging Wisdom was created
• Wisdom found in "the good, the true, and the beautiful"
• Wisdom as a lived practice—not merely knowledge
• Why disagreement does not have to become hostility
• Creating conversations that are not echo chambers
• Curiosity, humility, vulnerability, and self-awareness
• The difference between openness and indecision
• Holding convictions while remaining willing to course-correct
• How labels can divide people in religion, politics, and culture
• Pruning beliefs, behaviors, and patterns that no longer serve us
• The courage required to ask difficult questions
• Making room for your own voice without silencing others
• Why wisdom cannot be pursued alone

MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION

• Plato’s triad: the good, the true, and the beautiful
• Biblical wisdom, Proverbs, and the fruit of the Spirit
• The Enneagram
• Dan’s Mormon and Latter-day Saint history project
• Michael Jordan and the humility required to be mentored
• Poet David Whyte
• Upcoming guests John G. Turner and John Crowder

ABOUT MERGING WISDOM

Merging Wisdom is a podcast exploring faith, psychology, culture, history, politics, and what it means to live wisely in a complex world.

The goal is not simply to talk about wisdom, but to practice wisdom. Allowing what we discover to lead to meaningful action, real change, and lives shaped by greater truth, goodness, beauty, and connection.

No single field, tradition, or point of view has a monopoly on wisdom. We follow the questions that matter across the boundaries that usually keep our conversations apart. We desire to always be moving towards wisdom. Where disciplines meet, wisdom emerges.

Follow or subscribe so you can join future conversations.

Hosted by Joel Hubbard, Dan Heroy, and Sarina Heroy.

https://mergingwisdom.com

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